diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/extras/cloud/misc/ovirt.py b/lib/ansible/modules/extras/cloud/misc/ovirt.py
index 86c769bdb2..f4f77ca8ce 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/extras/cloud/misc/ovirt.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/extras/cloud/misc/ovirt.py
@@ -333,6 +333,7 @@ def vm_start(conn, vmname, hostname=None, ip=None, netmask=None, gateway=None,
     vm = conn.vms.get(name=vmname)
     use_cloud_init = False
     nics = None
+    nic = None
     if hostname or ip or netmask or gateway or domain or dns or rootpw or key:
         use_cloud_init = True
     if ip and netmask and gateway: